A Christmas Celebration at Gloucester Cathedral

The senior band of the Gloucester Corps of the Salvation Army (Bandmaster Clifford Matthews) participated in “A Christmas Celebration” at Gloucester Cathedral on 12 December 2006. The event was the 11th annual Christmas Concert in support of the Meningitis Trust.

The concert began with the Gloucester Salvation Army band playing the familiar march Christmas Joy. Following some words of welcome, a soloist from the Gloucestershire Treblemakers began the carol Once in Royal David's City, with the audience joining in as the rest of the choir came through the house to their places at the front. The current president of the Meningitis Trust, journalist Andrew Harvey, made introductions.

The Band offered two items, The Proclamation of Christmas and Feliz Navidad, followed by the Treblemakers' rendition of Believe. The audience joined in, singing the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem. Another featured vocal group, the Stuart Singers, sang One Small Light and O Holy Night.

The unique group Something Blue, consisting of harpist Amanda Whiting and vocalist Joanne Thomas, presented a medley of Christmas songs, featuring Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Mary's Boy Child. The audience sang Silent Night, and the Treblemakers returned with three items: Shepherd's Pipe Carol, No Wars Will Stop Us Singing, and Walking in the Air. As the Stuart Singers prepared for their second set of songs, the congregation sang Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. The last two songs from the Stuart Singers were Do You Hear What I Hear? and Merry Christmas Everybody.

The Salvation Army Band played an arrangement of John Rutter's beautiful Candlelight Carol, followed with a completely different item, Yule Dance. Peter Rowlands, representing the Meningitis Trust, made some remarks and an appeal for support, followed by a final carol with the audience, accompanied by the Band, singing O Come All Ye Faithful. Major Paul Doust of the Gloucester Salvation Army gave the benediction.

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